India's New ICAO Passport Photo Rules: What Changed for Passport, PCC, and OCI Applications

The Government of India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a landmark directive in August 2025 requiring all Indian consulates and embassies to accept only ICAO-compliant photographs for passport-related applications. This change, which took effect on September 1, 2025, represents the most significant overhaul of Indian passport photo requirements in decades and directly affects three major document types: the Indian Passport, the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), and the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

The change is driven by India's transition to electronic chip-based (e-passports), which require biometric-grade facial data meeting the standards set out in ICAO Document 9303 — the same international standard used by over 190 countries for machine-readable travel documents. A second enforcement notice issued by CGI Toronto on December 1, 2025 made digital upload of the ICAO-compliant photo mandatory before any application could be submitted online.

Which Documents Are Affected?

What Exactly Changed? A Before and After Comparison

Indian Passport: What You Need to Know

For Indian passport applications — whether for a new passport, renewal, or reissue — the following specifications now apply at all Indian consulates and embassies worldwide, including the Consulate General of India in Toronto:

Physical Print Requirements

• Size: 35mm × 45mm (portrait orientation — this replaces the old 51×51mm square)
• Background: Plain white only — no off-white, cream, or grey
• Face coverage: 80–85% of the frame from chin to crown
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
• Eyes: Open, looking directly at the camera, both eyes fully visible
• Glasses: Not permitted
• Head coverings: Only for religious reasons, with full face visible
• Taken within: 6 months of application date
• Print quality: High-resolution, no pixelation, no damage, no shadows

Digital Upload Requirements

• Dimensions: 630 × 810 pixels
• Format: JPEG
• File size: 10KB – 1MB
• Colour: Full colour (no black and white)
• Editing: Not permitted — no filters, brightness adjustments, or retouching

Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): What You Need to Know

The Indian Police Clearance Certificate is required for immigration applications, employment abroad, and various other purposes. As of September 2025, PCC photo requirements now match the Indian Passport ICAO standards exactly:

PCC Photo Requirements

• Size: 35mm × 45mm (portrait — same as passport)
• Digital dimensions: 630 × 810 pixels
• Background: Plain white only
• Face coverage: 80–85% of frame
• Glasses: Not permitted
• No editing or filters
• Taken within 6 months

PCC applications in Canada are processed through BLS International (for most provinces) and the Consulate General of India in Toronto. Both now require the ICAO-compliant photo to be uploaded digitally before the application is submitted.

OCI Card: What Changed (and What Did Not)

The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card has a different photo format requirement compared to the passport and PCC. The OCI card continues to use the 2×2 inch (51×51mm) square format — this has not changed. However, all other ICAO facial standards now apply to OCI photos as well:

OCI Photo Requirements (Updated)

• Size: 2 × 2 inches / 51 × 51 mm (square — unchanged)
• Digital dimensions: 600 × 600 pixels
• Background: Plain white only (strictly enforced)
• Face coverage: 50–70% of the frame
• Glasses: Not permitted (this is new — previously permitted in some cases)
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed
• No editing or filters
• Taken within 6 months

Side-by-Side Comparison: All Three Document Types

Why Did India Make This Change?

India's transition to ICAO-compliant photographs is directly linked to the rollout of the Indian e-Passport, which contains an embedded electronic chip storing the holder's biometric data — including a high-resolution facial image. For the chip to function correctly with international border control systems, the stored photo must meet ICAO Document 9303 standards, which specify precise facial geometry, image resolution, and background requirements.

India joins over 190 countries that have adopted ICAO standards for machine-readable travel documents. The change also aligns India's passport system with countries like Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, all of which have required ICAO-compliant photos for years.

What This Means for Canadians of Indian Origin

For the large Indian-Canadian community in Toronto and across Canada, these changes have practical implications:

• Existing photos may no longer be valid. If you had passport photos taken before September 2025, they may be the old 51×51mm square format and will be rejected for passport or PCC applications.
• You need separate photos for different documents. If you are applying for both a passport and an OCI card, you need two different photo formats — 35×45mm for the passport and 2×2 inch for the OCI card.
• Digital files are now required. You must upload your photo digitally to the Passport Seva portal before your appointment. A printed photo alone is no longer sufficient.
• Studio photos are strongly recommended. Given the strict ICAO requirements — particularly the 80–85% face coverage, plain white background, and no-glasses rule — professional studio photos have a significantly higher acceptance rate than self-taken photos.

How Passport Photo Toronto Can Help

At Passport Photo Toronto, we produce ICAO-compliant photos for all three Indian document types. Our studio equipment and trained staff ensure that every photo meets the precise specifications required by the Consulate General of India in Toronto, BLS International, and the Passport Seva portal:

• Indian Passport photos: 35×45mm prints + 630×810px digital file
• Indian PCC photos: 35×45mm prints + 630×810px digital file
• OCI card photos: 2×2 inch prints + 600×600px digital file

Walk-ins are welcome at our downtown Toronto studio at 63 McCaul St. Same-day service available. Contact us for more information.